The National Hockey League (NHL) has released its list of the initial 32 players to be selected for the 2023 All-Star Game set to take place in South Florida. One player from each team has been picked to participate in this year’s festivities, which have historically included a skills competition and games between divisions.
The names were revealed on ESPN during Thursday night’s game between the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Also Read | Why NFL decided to cancel Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnatti Bengals week 17 game
The NHL announced that three additional players will be selected through a fan vote over the next twelve days. A part of that fan vote will be decided on Twitter for two days between January 12 and 13.
Also Read | Tee Higgins’ first public comments since Damar Hamlin injury: ‘I’m in a good place now’
Here is the list of 32 players selected by the NHL Department of Hockey Operations:
Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Carolina Hurricanes
Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets
Jack Hughes, C, New Jersey Devils
Brock Nelson, C, New York Islanders
Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers
Kevin Hayes, C, Philadelphia Flyers
Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals
Also Read | Vince McMahon’s return to WWE: All you need to know
Atlantic Division
Linus Ullmark, G, Boston Bruins
Tage Thompson, C, Buffalo Sabres
Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings
Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers
Nick Suzuki, C, Montreal Canadiens
Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ottawa Senators
Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Also Read | Andretti Global, Cadillac join hands in bid for all-American F1 team
Central Division
Clayton Keller, RW, Arizona Coyotes
Seth Jones, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars
Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild
Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis Blues
Josh Morrissey, D, Winnipeg Jets
Also Read | Damar Hamlin is ‘awake’, holding hands with family after suffering cardiac arrest
Pacific Division
Troy Terry, RW, Anaheim Ducks
Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
Kevin Fiala, LW, Los Angeles Kings
Erik Karlsson, D, San Jose Sharks
Matty Beniers, C, Seattle Kraken
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Logan Thompson, G, Vegas Golden Knights
Also Read | Joe Biden talks about NFL injuries after Damar Hamlin on-field emergency
This season, the NHL has changed the format for picking All-Star Weekend participants. In the previous seasons, fans voted for four captains and the NHL selected the remaining players. The fans will vote in the final 12 players for this season’s All-Star Game.
Also Read | Did NFL originally plan to restart game after Damar Hamlin’s collapse?
The Department of Hockey Operations selected the initial eight-players rosters for each division, which involved at least one goaltender. The three remaining players for each divisional team, two skaters and one goalie, will be selected through an All-Star fan vote that started at 9 pm ET Thursday and runs through January 17.